Group to partner INEC

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Centre for Human Rights and Ethics in Development (CHRED), has said it would partner the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair governorship election in Ondo State on October 20.

The group hailed the electoral body for conducting a successful election on July 14 in Edo State.It noted that the outcome of the poll demonstrated that there could be transparent election in Nigeria, if stakeholders play their role according to the rules of the game.

CHRED said as part of efforts to ensure that votes count, it has constituted an institutional framework, to be called the Stakeholders’ Consultative Advisory committee (SAC). It comprises the representatives of INEC, the media, political parties, security agencies, lawmakers, among others.

It said SAC would be domiciled in the state capital with dedicated phones for information and complaints as well as maintain contacts with those it described as election rovers from the 18 local governments.

A statement by its Executive Director, Mr Mohood Erubami, said the Ondo State governorship poll would be another test for the INEC to prove that it is capable of conducting free and fair elections in 2015.

The statement reads: “The Centre for Human Rights and Ethics In Development (CHRED) as a vital component of democratic governance, in collaboration with stakeholders has therefore decided not to be indifferent to the possible dangers already raring their heads in the state such that caused political acrimonies in the past.

“We have decided to set an election observation platform to checkmate political office holders and their opponents from the contest for power with bitter divisions and rancour such that can make political violence a recurrent feature of Nigeria’s political life.

“CHRED will use its election observation platform-the voters to compliment the efforts of INEC to improve on the challenges and achievements recorded during Edo election so as to make the coming Ondo State Gubernatorial election acceptable to all stakeholders.

“The voters under the umbrella of the Centre for Human Rights and Ethics in Development (CHRED) will ensure that conditions for credible election set by INEC are met by observing the early distribution of sensitive and less sensitive materials arrival of materials, and officials at pulling centres,

“It will ensure conducive atmosphere for accreditation and monitor voting in all the voting centres, adherence to set voting time adequacy of voting materials, and good conduct of electoral officials, voters and security agencies.

“The group will in addition, initiate and establish a rapid response intervention program to halt the trends towards dreadful and violent disruption of an electoral process and create a peaceful atmosphere for credible and legitimate election instead, so as to allow democracy to flourish.

“In this way, the hegemonic violence trend will be crushed via the establishment of an institutional framework to be known as the Stakeholders Consultative Advisory committee (SAC), comprising of the Representatives from INEC, Media, Political Parties, Chief Security Officers, Legislators and Security Agencies.

“SAC will take complaints of malpractices against the electoral act and INEC guidelines from people and take immediate proactive actions to remedy the situation before it escalates into big conflicts.
The statement said’’ In the process, peaceful democratic transition is ensured and guaranteed.”